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Apply for a Buddy- Participant Intake Form

  • Effective communication and information sharing between parents or caregivers and recreation providers is essential for creating an inclusive and safe environment.
  • The information collected supports our staff in preparing programs and the environment to meet the unique needs of each participant.
  • This intake form is confidential and will only be shared with staff and volunteers who work directly with the participant.
  • Upon receiving the form, our team reviews it carefully to ensure your buddy has the appropriate training and skills to provide a positive and successful experience for the participant.

Please note: When filling out this form, make sure your answers are as descriptive as possible. This will eliminate any additional follow-up phone calls which would delay the approval process.

By enrolling my child in the Buddy Program, I acknowledge that the role of a Buddy is to provide general support and encouragement to help my child participate in camp activities to the best of their ability. I understand that Buddies are not personal care attendants or behavioral interventionists and that their support is intended to foster inclusion within a group setting rather than provide one-on-one specialized care.

What a Buddy Can Do: What a Buddy Cannot Do:
Encouragement & Engagement – Help participants feel comfortable, make friends, and participate in activities Provide Hands-On Physical Support – No lifts, transfers, or physical interventions.
Guidance & Transitions – Assist with navigating program routines, schedules, and transitions between activities Administer Medication – Families must make alternative arrangements for medication administration.
Behavior Support – Use redirection techniques, positive reinforcement, and encouragement to help participants manage challenges. Assist with Toileting or Personal Care – Buddies can provide verbal reminders but cannot physically assist with changing, toileting, or hygiene needs.
Safety Awareness – Monitor and promote safe participation in all activities. Handle Aggressive or Unsafe Behavior Alone – If a participant displays behaviors that pose a risk to themselves or others, staff will follow the Behavior Procedure and contact parents/ guardians if necessary.
Communication Support – Help participants express their needs and interact with peers and staff. Act as a One-on-One Therapist or Specialist – Buddies are not certified as Child and Youth Workers, Educational Assistants, Personal Support Workers, or Behavioral Therapists.
Program Adaptations – Help modify activities as needed to ensure inclusion and participation.  
By enrolling this participant in the Buddy Program, I acknowledge the above roles of a Buddy and the support a Buddy can and cannot provide:
 

The Buddy Program Costs

Day Camps 

Week 1: Free Buddy Support + the cost of the camp.

Week 2 & 3: $375 for Buddy support + the cost of the camp.

Recreation Programs 

$80 for Buddy Support + the cost of the program.

Below are the costs for a Buddy by program. Please indicate where you are sourcing your funding:
 

Caregiver/Outside Agency Information

Please let us know if you are requesting a buddy for yourself, as a caregiver, or if you're representing an outside agency:
 
What program is the participant interested in attending?
 


© City of Orillia, 50 Andrew Street South, Suite 300, Orillia, Ontario, L3V 7T5, Tel: (705) 325-1311, Fax: (705) 325-5178, Email: info@orillia.ca

By GHD Digital